Shah M M, Barr D P, Chung N, Aust S D
Biotechnology Center, Utah State University, Logan 84322-4705.
Toxicol Lett. 1992 Dec;64-65 Spec No:493-501. doi: 10.1016/0378-4274(92)90224-8.
White rot fungi have been shown to mineralize a wide variety of environmental pollutants. These fungi secrete a number of enzymes that are involved in its unique ability to degrade lignin, the structural component of woody plants. Lignin is a very complex heteropolymer that can only be degraded by white rot fungi. Degradation is complete without energy value to the fungus. The evolution of this ability has apparently given the organism the ability to degrade structurally diverse and normally very recalcitrant environmental pollutants such as DDT, PCB, benzo(a)pyrene, TNT, etc. Some of the major enzymes that are secreted by the fungi are peroxidases with unique properties. In addition to their ability to catalyze a wide variety of oxidations, they can also catalyze indirect oxidations and reductions. The fungi synthesize and secrete hydrogen peroxide to activate the peroxidases, veratryl alcohol to serve as a free radical intermediate for indirect oxidations, and electron donors, such as oxalate, which with veratryl alcohol catalyze reductions. Reductions are often required for subsequent oxidation of chemicals by the peroxidases. The enzymes can also reduce molecular oxygen.
白腐真菌已被证明可将多种环境污染物矿化。这些真菌分泌多种酶，这些酶与其降解木质素（木本植物的结构成分）的独特能力有关。木质素是一种非常复杂的杂聚物，只能被白腐真菌降解。降解过程对真菌而言是完全的且无能量价值。这种能力的进化显然赋予了该生物体降解结构多样且通常非常顽固的环境污染物的能力，如滴滴涕、多氯联苯、苯并(a)芘、三硝基甲苯等。真菌分泌的一些主要酶是具有独特性质的过氧化物酶。除了能够催化多种氧化反应外，它们还能催化间接氧化和还原反应。真菌合成并分泌过氧化氢以激活过氧化物酶，合成藜芦醇作为间接氧化的自由基中间体，以及电子供体，如草酸盐，草酸盐与藜芦醇一起催化还原反应。过氧化物酶随后氧化化学物质时通常需要还原反应。这些酶还能还原分子氧。
